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Widower of woman killed in West Springfield traffic accident organizing vigil for 2 victims of same driver

Shela Wheeler memorial.jpg

A temporary memorial at the gravesite of Shela Wheeler, who was struck and killed last year while attempting to cross Memorial Avenue in West Springfield, is seen earlier this year. It was a temporary memorial that was put up while friends raised funds to purchase a permanent gravestone.

SPRINGFIELD - The widower of Shela Wheeler, a 43-year-old mother of two who was killed in 2012 as she made her way across the street in West Springfield, is organizing a vigil on Thursday night in honor of Wheeler and another pedestrian who police say was run over by the same driver on May 14.

Ale Moutrie, 60, of Springfield, was behind the wheel during both collisions, according to police. He was not charged in the first accident and thus far has not been charged in connection with the second. The second victim was Edwin Simonetty, 60, of Springfield.

Simonetty was crossing Plainfield Street in the city's North End. Police are still investigating the circumstances of that collision.

The vigil will take place starting at 7 p.m. in the parking lot of the Greek Cultural Center off Main Street, also in the city's North End and less than a mile from where Simonetty was killed. Kyle Wheeler, of East Longmeadow, said he wants to keep his late wife's memory alive and is unsatisfied with the results of the West Springfield investigation. West Springfield police officials said the 2012 incident was subject to a meticulous accident reconstruction.

Police in West Springfield and Springfield said Moultrie did not appear to be intoxicated at either accident and each site was devoid of skid marks, suggesting excessive speed was not a factor.

Moultrie's lawyer has said his client is "devastated" and sends his condolences to both families.